I climbed the mountain with Father.
It felt like just yesterday that I had climbed the mountain with him right after my regression, but so much had happened in between.
If I had to pick just one thing, it would be that my relationship with Father had become much better than before.
So, while the same two people were climbing the same mountain, it was a distinctly different situation.
“What made you suggest we go hunting?”
“I wanted to spend time with you, Father.”
Father stopped walking and looked back at me.
Because I was sincere, I could meet his gaze calmly.
Father, when I returned and saw you sitting in the Grand Advisor's seat, I was truly overcome with emotion.
Father began walking again and asked me, “Why did you bring so much baggage?”
“As you saw last time, these are all necessary things. They may be inconvenient now, but later they will bring comfort and joy to our bodies and mouths.”
Father once again led the way.
I followed quietly behind him.
When I first suggested we go hunting, I thought I would be as talkative as a chatterbox, but now that I was actually with Father, I didn't have much to say.
Fortunately, it wasn't awkward at all just walking like this in silence.
No, in fact, it was better, as if we were having a wordless conversation.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
I have no intention of marrying in this life either, but if I were to marry and have a child, would there be a day when I, too, would go hunting with my son like this? Could I become the kind of father to whom my son could comfortably say, 'Father, let's go hunting'?
Would my son also walk behind me like this, thinking such thoughts? And what is Father thinking right now?
After walking for a long while, I broke the silence.
“The Martial Alliance Leader said he wishes to see you, Father.”
Father already knew this, as I had reported my meeting with the Martial Alliance Leader through a dispatch.
“Is that man well?”
“He is vigorous for his age. His personality is fiery, and his martial arts are tyrannical. He was very different from the Alliance Leader I had imagined.”
“He is a man different from the rumors.”
“The Alliance Leader said he wanted to see you. When I said you probably felt the same, he said that wasn't likely. He said you would want to kill him.”
“He knows me well.”
“Are you serious?”
“Did you expect the Demon Cult Master to miss the Martial Alliance Leader?”
“Isn't it possible to have courtesy for the head of the opposing camp, or respect as a martial artist?”
“There is no such thing. Respect as a martial artist is earned only after a fight.”
“Do you wish to fight the Alliance Leader?”
After a brief pause, Father answered.
“He is someone I’d like to face at least once.”
Victory in that fight would mean the death of the opponent.
A clash between the Heavenly Demon and the Martial Alliance Leader wouldn't end with them simply dusting off their clothes.
And the result of that fight would change the fate of the entire Martial World.
That is why this fight cannot easily happen.
I know that Father dreams of the Unification of the World.
Since the topic of the Alliance Leader came up, I decided to probe Father's intentions.
“If the Main Sect and the Righteous Sect were to clash, would the Unorthodox Alliance side with us?”
“If you think the Unorthodox Alliance is closer to us than the Righteous Sect, you are mistaken.”
“Am I?”
“If the Unorthodox Alliance had to choose between us and the Martial Alliance, they would join hands with the Righteous Sect.”
“Is there a reason you are so certain?”
“Because the Unorthodox Alliance dislikes us more than they do the Righteous Sect. They probably want to eliminate us and then divide the Martial World with the Righteous Sect.”
I felt that Father's words were right.
I had once spoken with a master from the Unorthodox Faction before my regression.
He, too, truly hated our Main Sect, and the reason was simple.
As the Demon Sect came to symbolize true evil, the Unorthodox Alliance was relegated to an organization that pursued a cheap brand of evil.
Why shouldn't the Unorthodox Alliance become the master of the Martial World?
It was merely the lamentation and personal thought of a single master from the Unorthodox Faction, but I had thought at the time that many others in the Unorthodox Faction might feel the same way.
It occurred to me that the Unorthodox Alliance's hatred for our Main Sect, which Father mentioned, might have originated from there.
I didn't bother to discourage Father's ambition.
After all, we would have to fight a war at some point.
It’s just that the target would be Hwa Mugi, not the Martial Alliance or the Unorthodox Alliance.
‘Father, you must become stronger too!’
That evening.
We settled down in a quiet spot by a flowing stream.
I laid down a thick leather hide in a place where Father could comfortably lean back and lie down.
It was the most important piece of luggage I had carried.
After making a comfortable bed for Father, I started a campfire and cooked the game we had caught.
I didn't just sprinkle salt on it for a quick meal; I applied a marinade I had prepared beforehand and grilled it properly.
This time, I had brought not only the secret sauce Chef Im had made, but also various vegetables and other foods.
“How does it taste?”
“It's good.”
It had to be.
I had found out what flavors Father liked through Chef Im and prepared the marinade accordingly.
After the meal, I served him tea.
The tea was also one that Father enjoyed.
Seeing the satisfied expression on Father's face as he drank the tea made me feel that preparing it was well worth the effort.
“Have your Four Divine Wind Steps reached the Ninth Star?”
As expected, Father saw through my achievement at a glance.
“Yes. I felt something during the fight with the Heavenly Fate Society, but unfortunately, it did not lead to Great Mastery.”
It felt so close, yet so far away—truly a distant yet near feeling.
“If you become impatient, it will only slow you down.”
“I will keep that in mind. Would you like another cup of tea?”
Father nodded, and I poured him another warm cup.
“Do you find it fun, spending time with me?”
He had really changed a lot.
For Father to ask such a question.
There was one principle I always remembered at times like this.
Don't even think about deceiving Father.
“Honestly, how could it be fun? It is, of course, a bit nerve-wracking and burdensome.”
“Then why did you suggest we come?”
“Because I feel secure.”
Father looked at me with a surprised expression.
I calmly conveyed my feelings.
“When I'm with you, Father, I feel so secure. No matter who stands in our way, you would block them, wouldn't you? Even if a monster, not a human, appeared, you would stop it, wouldn't you, Father? Just being with you puts my mind at ease. I don't have to protect you, I don't feel the pressure of having to make that person my own, and I don't feel the responsibility of having to make someone who sacrifices for me happy. This moment, where I can just be still no matter what happens, is so comforting. I feel secure because you are here, Father.”
It was my truly honest feeling.
Father looked at me with a slightly deeper gaze, as if surprised.
“Father, are you not lonely?”
At my question, Father scoffed.
It was a difficult question to get an answer to, but when else would I ask such a thing?
Father lay down on the ground as if to say we should sleep.
Lying there for a moment and looking up at the night sky, Father spoke abruptly.
“I have never once been lonely.”
To me, it sounded like this:
I am always lonely.
Thus, the first day of hunting with Father passed.
*
The second day was spent wandering around more comfortably than the first.
We barely spoke, but neither Father nor I felt any awkwardness.
We just climbed the mountain together, walked along the path, and rested by the valley.
Hunting was not the main purpose; we just walked and rested together.
That evening, as I was about to grill the meat we had hunted, Father came over to my side.
“Let me try.”
“Try what? Surely you don't mean to say you're going to cook?”
“Why not?”
“You, Father, cooking?”
At my extreme surprise, Father asked calmly.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Have you ever cooked before?”
“I do it sometimes.”
I was startled by this unbelievable statement.
“By any chance, is there a martial art named 'cooking' among the Demonic Arts? You're talking about that, right?”
“Nonsense!”
How could I not speak nonsense when Father said he was going to cook?
“You kill the chef if a dish doesn't suit your palate, don't you? Do you perhaps cook on those days with a heart of atonement?”
“For me to kill him, my chef's skill is far too exceptional, is it not?”
“Are you really going to cook?”
Father began to cook as if to show me directly.
And he cooked with real skill.
He didn't just grill the meat whole but cut out the delicious parts and stir-fried them with vegetables and mushrooms.
And as if to prove that he cooked regularly, he also made a soup to go with it.
What was even more surprising was that it tasted excellent.
“What is this? Why is it so delicious? Did you secretly pour Clearstone Essence Oil instead of seasoning?”
A smile touched the corner of Father's lips.
It was the first smile he had shown since we started climbing the mountain.
It was a moment I learned something about Father I had never known.
The Heavenly Demon of this era is a cooking Heavenly Demon.
That night, lying down with the campfire between us, Father and I talked about various things.
I mostly initiated the conversation, and Father responded.
The topic of the Demon Sovereigns was bound to come up.
“As you already know, Father, on my side are the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign, and the Drunken Demon. On my brother's side are the Demon Buddha, the Poison King, and the Fist Demon. I've excluded the young Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign for now. What do you think? My side seems more advantageous, doesn't it?”
“It is a close match.”
“Even though we have one more person, it's a close match?”
“Yes.”
For it to be a close match even though they were short one person meant that among the Demon Buddha, the Fist Demon, and the Poison King, there was someone who could do the work of two.
Who did he hold in such high regard?
“Is it time to chase out the slacker on our side?”
Despite my joke, Father said no more on the matter.
He meant for me to experience it and suffer a bit for myself.
I wonder who he had in mind when he said that.
“Why do you want to become the Cult Master?”
*Because it's my mission.
It's the mission I have toiled my whole life for, even regressing for it.
I will protect it even if I die.*
“Because I want to learn the Nine Calamities Demon Art.”
“Why are you so obsessed with the Nine Calamities Demon Art?”
“I am not obsessed with the Nine Calamities Demon Art, but with becoming stronger.”
“You are plenty strong now. What do you intend to do by becoming even stronger?”
“Because I must become stronger to be able to protect everyone.”
Father, and my brother too.
And all the members of the Heavenly Demon Hall.
A few more people might be added to that list now.
In the past, they didn't step forward, but now, some of the Demon Sovereigns will surely step up for true revenge.
But Father's thoughts were firm.
“The Nine Calamities Demon Art will only be passed down to the one who will become the Heavenly Demon.”
“Then I will be the one to become the Heavenly Demon.”
Just like Father, my thoughts were also firm.
Father looked at me for a moment, then turned his back and went to sleep.
‘And even if I become the Heavenly Demon, I will be a different kind of Heavenly Demon from you, Father.
A Heavenly Demon who freely roams the world.
To do that, I'll have to work much harder, though.’
*
On the third day, Father headed for the summit of Great Heaven Mountain.
On the way up, I sensed the aura of a tiger a couple of times.
But I pretended not to know.
It was to leave an excuse to come hunting again next time.
If I had sensed it, Father surely would have too, but he didn't mention catching the tiger either.
Could it be that Father was also looking forward to the next hunt?
“Ah, was the summit always this magnificent?”
The view from the top of Great Heaven Mountain was truly like something out of a painting.
“When I was your age, I used to come up here whenever I got tired from martial arts training.”
Imagining a young Father standing here gave me a strange feeling.
“I should come up here once in a while when I feel frustrated with training, too.”
“Come here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Father sat on a flat rock at the summit and began to lecture me on the Flying Heaven Sword Technique.
It was a martial art in which I had already achieved Twelve-Star Great Mastery, and the learning I needed now was for the Four Divine Wind Steps.
Yet, knowing this, Father spoke about the Flying Heaven Sword Technique.
It was as if he was saying that all martial arts are ultimately connected, so by thoroughly understanding what you know best, you can find clues to understanding other things.
It was a very special moment where a master of Twelve-Star Great Mastery was listening to a lecture on the Flying Heaven Sword Technique given by another master of Twelve-Star Great Mastery.
And I had a new experience.
I thought I would naturally understand everything he said, but there were quite a few parts that differed from my own thoughts.
I realized that even with the same Great Mastery, the paths to reach it could be very different.
Whenever a part I couldn't understand came up, I would ask Father without fail.
I didn't pretend to know what I didn't.
I didn't pretend not to know either.
I simply let the conversation flow like water, just as my thoughts flowed.
This discussion on martial arts, which I thought would be brief, continued for three, then four hours.
It went on for a whole day, then two, and even into the third day.
We continued talking while eating the food we had cooked, while drinking tea, and even while drinking the wine I had brought for the last day.
We talked while hunting for more food, and we talked about martial arts while grilling meat over the campfire.
Both Father and I were completely engrossed in this conversation.
It started as a discussion on the Flying Heaven Sword Technique, but we ended up debating all aspects of martial arts.
It was a deep discussion between the Heavenly Demon, my father, and the regressed Heavenly Martial Body.
When the long, three-day discussion finally ended, I jumped to my feet and performed the Four Divine Wind Steps.
And I knew.
I had finally become able to properly walk the four steps of the wind god.
With a look of surprise, I told Father.
“The Four Divine Wind Steps has reached Great Mastery.”
Father was not surprised, as if he had anticipated this situation.
He had grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and thrown me into Great Mastery.
I gave Father a deep bow.
“It is thanks to your great teaching. Thank you so much, Father.”
“Rise. Let's head down now.”
“Yes.”
I was seized by an intense desire to run.
I was curious about how fast the Swift Step at Great Mastery would be, whether it was a speed I could handle, and how much smaller the Central Plains had become.
All of it.
“Father. How about a race? From here to the Main Sect. What do you say?”
I finally had the right to compete against Father's Heavenly Demon Flying Technique.
Father looked at me with a scornful expression.
Why do I like that expression so much?
“What will you bet?”
“We have to bet our pride.”
“Fine.”
The condition was absolutely favorable to me since it wouldn't matter if I lost, but Father readily accepted.
He intended to win and tease me.
Father and I stood side by side.
I guess I hadn't seen his profile from this close very often.
Father's face felt new again.
This moment, racing side by side with Father, made me so happy.
“Alright, we start on the count of three. One, two…”
I counted “three” after I had already started.
This way, if I won, Father would have something to say about it.
As the two supreme movement arts began to slice through space, I started to hear a wind sound I had never heard before in my life.